Esther 8:8 5/28/2024

“Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring — for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

Earlier in Esther,  an irrevocable decree had gone out from Haman to kill all the Jews. But when the king learned the truth, he gave the same irrevocable power to Mordecai.  He did not revoke the edict sent out by Haman… so the danger was still present.  But the  king instructed Mordecai to meet the danger by writing his own decree. 

So, Mordecai summons the royal secretaries. He brings in specialists. He strategically chooses what to write and who to send it to. Then gives it to the fastest riders, and with this new decree God diverted catastrophic injury to His people, just in the nick of time.

What calamity is God in the process of delivering you from?  What battle are you currently fighting?  Just remember that when  God moves, He doesn’t always remove the danger… sometimes He gives us a way to meet it. Mordecai’s decree didn’t eliminate the threat, but it allowed the Jews to prepare for it and defend themselves…. It also revealed that the Queen was a Jew and increased their political power so that many joined their ranks.

God does not always remove us from danger.  Sometimes He provides opportunity,  courage, and strength to fight through it.  Neither fear nor panic are in His playbook, and  It is never too late for God to turn the tables.  In this case all that was needed  was for Mordecai to hold to his convictions, and Esther to be courageous enough to approach the king. 

If you are facing adversity that seems unavoidable, hold your course.  Cling to your convictions and be strong and courageous enough to approach the King knowing He will have a plan. 

If Faith is defined as the evidence of things not seen… then what you’re looking at isn’t what matters… What matters is your faith in what you haven’t seen….Yet.  Hold on, have the courage to look the storm in the eye, keep walking straight, and stand in faith until the rain subsides. 

"True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie." — A.W. Tozer

Proverbs 29:27 5/21/2024

“An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.”

Wolves and caribou don’t go to the watering hole together. Their lifestyles exclude each other. That applies to people too… unjust men, and upright men don’t form community groups together. Their goals don’t line up. 

However, verses like these are often conveniently misapplied.  We use them to justify spiritual arrogance and exclude people we don’t like -or when we want to party, we are quick to declare that Jesus ate with sinners. If we want to ignore sin in others, we quote the verse that says don’t get the splinter out of your brother’s eye with a log in your own, and we tend to leave it there.  But the next verse says remove the log, and help your brother get rid of the speck…. God demands love and change.  We love the love, but we bristle at sanctification.

Jesus ate with sinners to instigate life changes, not to normalize sin or promote inclusion. Conversations with “sinners” ended with “sin no more”….or  “give away your wealth and follow me”.  The Jesus who dined with criminals said  - “if you love Me, you will keep my commandments”. He also said, “you are either for Me or against Me”. In other words, choose a team. You  can’t play for both squads.

I love sinners and pursuing their salvation is the reason I’m still here.  So, at times I seek their company.  But my ambition is their conversion. Conversely, when I am in the trenches of life and need help, I seek men who share my faith and will battle next to me. 

I wish I could serve God wholeheartedly, and be completely comfortable, accepted,  and loved in this world… but that simply cannot happen.  I must choose who I’m going to serve.  If I intend to soar like an eagle, I can’t wallow in the mud. There are no muddy eagles. I must choose a team and follow their playbook. 

However, as I soar, I must remember Christ delivered me from my filth … So, I should love sinners so much that I am drawn to them… Not to  wallow in the mud with them… but to show them where they can get their wings. 

“Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” - D. T. Niles

Ezra 4:4 5/14/2024

“Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans …”

The Israelites were in exile and decided to build an altar to God. Those in the area were opposed to their plan.  But that didn’t deter the Israelites. As we have westernized Christianity, we have fallen into the trap of believing that God leads by removing resistance.  In fact, the opposite is often true.  When Jesus said don’t be surprised if they hate you, because they hated Me first.  The implication is that I should be concerned if I fit into this world a little too well.  Resistance is often God showing me I am going in the right direction not the wrong one.

Jesus said, "…I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).  We are called to be different… and some people don’t like different. But many churches focus on being innocent to the exclusion of wise, for fear of offending.  This is illogical. We are in a war and the enemy has no interest in peace negotiations.  Nothing is easy since the fall and we must expect to struggle. 

When we follow God - there will be opposition. Both spiritual and physical. The easiest way to get blindsided is to not expect resistance. We are working against rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil. (Ephesians 6:12) And when you advance God’s Kingdom you can expect a response from the gates of hell . 

The Jews were trying to build an altar. The enemy schemed to stop those plans. Be certain that no good work goes unnoticed or unopposed.  The bigger the goal the bigger the fight that should be expected. Be wise… be determined… be prepared.  

We are to be peaceful when it is up to us… but it is often not up to us.  Be prudent and sensible… but in a reckless kind of way. God has demonstrated that there is no reason to fear those who try to discourage us and make us afraid. ….Remember that the lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah… Build the altar.

 “It’s a jungle out there…used to be a garden.” - Tonio K.

Isaiah 6:6-8 5/7/2024

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.”   Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

Put yourself in Isaiah’s shoes  … There is an angel approaching you with a coal in his hand from a fire so hot that he used tongs to get it out. As he stretches it towards your lips do you duck, do you run?  – does it burn?   However it feels, you are told that your guilt has been removed and your sin has been paid for by the grace of God … How do you respond?  

The chorus of the song “I can only imagine” asks a similar question : “Will I stand in Your presence? Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?”… when I hear that, I think to myself, I will  definitely fall down in silence - ashamed of how undeserving I am … That sounds good on the surface, however with that response the focus is still on me.  As I fall in silence my thoughts are about me and my weakness, not the power of the blood that was shed for my atonement. 

But Isaiah focuses on God… when God asks for volunteers he shouts,  “Here I am, send me!”   Isaiah is thinking of God’s power not his own failures and  lack of strength … they are irrelevant.  Can I get there?  Can I die so completely to myself that I don’t have to “humble brag” about my unworthiness. Can I be so sure of God’s strength that my past weakness becomes immaterial? Today I will focus on The King of Kings. I will eliminate the self-centeredness I have disguised as humility, and eagerly look for ways to boldly serve God.  

Will you yell “here I am, send me”… Will you trust God - or will you sit in silence today, focused on what you can’t do?

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” -  Rick Warren